We have four geldings, all nearly 12 years old. Their names are: Faro, Fyta, Fergus and Fidget. We started keeping Alpacas with these 4 boys in June 2007 and although we had up to eight boys for several years, we have now reverted to keeping our original four. Through this blog we hope to show how much pleasure can be had from owning Alpacas.

OUR SMALL HERD

Our four boys came from Ardo Alpacas in Aberdeenshire. We are not alpaca breeders and have our boys purely as pets. Our experience is that you don't need to be a breeder and that a 'batchelor herd' can give much pleasure to the owner.
We have 5 acres including our big garden and grazing for the boys, 15 miles north of Inverness, Scotland. I spin, knit, felt and crochet with the fleece from the boys.

Clicking!!

Just a reminder that clicking on (most) of the photos will show them greatly enlarged.

Sunday, 6 September 2015

Visit to Woodleigh Lodge Alpacas

We received a very kind invitation from Wendy and Paul of Woodleigh Lodge Alpacas on the Black Isle to come along for some cake, coffee and alpaca blether. We couldn't resist, neither could Graham from Ruilick Alpacas at Beauly with daughter Bethany and son Dylan and also Alison and Brendan of Portmahomack Alpacas in Easter Ross. There to greet us as this photo shows is dad Sammy on the right, Mum Babs at the rear and young Dottie, this year's cria at the front.

This is proud dad Sammy, the boss of everything he surveys - and he knows it! He's just had a few slices of carrot so looks pretty content.

Also at Woodleigh Lodge is Grandma Prudence who has seen all the excitement around cria before. Behind her in the background are the humans chatting about all the hens and goldfish in the pond. After that came Wendy's delicious cakes and coffee - and piles of washing up for Paul. Thanks for a great get-together folks.

The lovely Dottie is still sticking close to Mum when humans are about but will soon wander off on her own if nobody is around. She was born in June, just before the shearer arrived and she is growing fast, but not quite ready for the carrots on offer to the 'grown ups!'

Back at the ranch this afternoon, the heat is growing, the flies are everywhere and Fergus is in the shelter trying to keep out of the way until Faro wants to come in and have a roll in the dust. You can see from Fergus's expression that he is not too happy about that, but he does let Faro in. Shortly afterwards Fyta piled in too, soaking wet from the water tray and anxious for a roll.

Meanwhile outside, Fidget is mowing the grass!

And finally............Faro, covered in dust from rolling in the shelter but pleased at having his head and neck soaked in water by a human.